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The Caller 1
Trustee’s 2
Committee Reports 3-6
Mailbag 7
Birthdays 7
Church Events 8
Photo Gallery 9-10
Calendar 11
Inside this issue:
A New Year’s Prayer
Now that the mad rush is over,
O center of stillness and peace:
Now that the needles are falling from the tree,
We thank you that you are still God-with-us.
As we face the year ahead,
help us to accept the difficult parts of our lives;
help us to make the changes we must make;
bring us to new places of openness and love toward you
and the people around us;
help us to overcome the fears which keep us from fullness of life.
As the frigid days of January and February draw near
Help us to keep warm places alive within us,
where in secret The bulbs of springtime tulips are nurtured.
As we face the year ahead,
we thank you for one another
and for the grace in Jesus Christ.
Help us individually and as a congregation
to be signs of your compassion, hope, joy, and unity
in this world you love in Jesus our Christ. Amen (David Beebe)
Blessings, Pastor Marraine
First Congregational
United Church of Christ
Our mission is to create and nurture
a family of Faith to do God’s work,
modeling the gospel of
Jesus Christ.
2
“The Caller” is published by the
First Congregational
United Church of Christ 171 West Pulteney Street
Corning, NY 14830
No matter who you are
or where you are on life’s
journey, you are welcome here!!
Office hours: Tuesday– Friday. 9:00 a.m. - noon
Phone: (607)962-7423
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.corningucc.org
Facebook.com/FCUCCC
Pastor: Rev. Marraine C. Kettell Secretary: Brenda Passmore
Unhanging the Greens January 1
Budget Planning & Soup January 8
Women’s Fellowship January 11
Book Discussion January 18
History Dinner January 25
Visitation Workshop January 28
Annual Meeting January 29
Inside this issue: Dates to Remember:
Office Hours: Church Office: Brenda is in the office Tues.-Fri. 9am-12pm.
Pastor Marraine: Monday: quiet sermon, worship preparation.
Tuesday-Thursday: Mornings in the office, appointments
appreciated.
Friday and Saturday: Days off unless there is a church event.
Emergency Number: (607)438-2634
The deadline for submitting articles
for “The Caller” is the
25th of each month.
The Trustees would like
to encourage your
attendance at a
meeting to discuss the
proposed budget for
2017. The meeting will
be held following our
church service on
Sunday, January 8.
The purpose of the discussion
will be to prepare a final budget
for presentation at the annual
meeting on January 29 for a
congregational vote. We have
an income shortfall and will,
therefore, need to make
decisions on how to preserve
our local mission and ministry
without a draining of our
resources.
Please be sure to join us after the church service
on January 8 for this important meeting.
The deadline for submitting articles
for “The Annual Report” is
Tuesday, January 10th, 2017.
The Caller 3
The 2017 Flower Chart Please sign up to give Sunday
altar flowers. The chart is posted
in the Fellowship Hall on the
North hallway wall. The cost of
the flowers will remain at
$25.00. The flowers can be
given to honor or in memory of a
special person, celebrate a special
event, wedding, birthday,
anniversary, or any other
occasion you wish.
Many thanks to everyone who has signed up in the
past and
for signing up in 2017.
- Joyce Nelson, Flower Chair
2017 SOUP LUNCHES
after worship on
JANUARY 8, FEBRUARY 5,
MARCH 5
Community Office Hours Pastor Marraine will be at Soulful Cup
Tuesday, January 24th, 9-11am
Wednesday, January 25th, 3-5pm
Come by for a warm drink
and a visit.
Bring a friend or colleague
to meet her!
Wednesday, January 11th, 11:30 am Please join us for a luncheon followed by the
speaker Dr. Joel VanSlyke P.T. from Juventis
Physical Therapy. We will also make our February
and Spring 2017 plans. All women of the church
are invited.
after worship
New Year’s Day
Coffee Hour
New Year's Eve
festivities and
Christmas gatherings
can leave the pantry
and refrigerator overflowing with leftovers and all
manner of goodies that we might want to enjoy —
if we want to violate our calorie-conscious
resolutions on Day One of the new year!
Instead, we
invite you to
ring in the
first morning
of the 2017
with your
church family
for a
"Leftovers
Coffee
Hour!" Bring
your cookies,
your fudge,
half a pie, a
dish of ham
and potatoes,
the rest of your cheese plate and more, and enjoy a
sampling of holiday leftovers during Coffee Hour
on January 1st.
We promise: the coffee will be fresh!
“GOOD NEWS, WE’VE FINSHED THE CHRISTMAS
LEFTOVERS!”
4
The Annual Congregational Meeting is an
important meeting with the approval of 2016
reports, election of officers and the approval of
the 2017 budget on the agenda. The Annual
Report will be available after worship January
22nd so that it may be reviewed before the
Annual Meeting.
If you are responsible for writing a report,
please have it in no later than January 10th.
ANNUAL
MEETING
January 29, 2017 at First Congregational UCC
Planning for benevolences:
The deacons have made some changes in our
plans for giving in 2017. In the past few years we have
budgeted for several charities and in addition have asked
for monthly giving for other charities. Sometimes we
have supplemented the monthly offerings with monies
from the Deacons' program fund. For 2017, we have
asked the trustees to consider a budget with a reduced
Deacons' program fund and a flat amount for giving to
benevolences. We will not be asking the congregation for
monthly charitable giving. We will, however, continue
the 5 for 5 offerings (One Great Hour of Sharing,
Strengthen the Church, Neighbors in Need, The
Christmas Fund, and Our Church's Wider Mission) which
are denomination-wide choices for giving. While we
have not finalized the specific charities for 2017, we have
allocated more monies than in previous years (adding
together both budgeted and envelop amounts). We will
definitely allocate monies to some of the charities that
have been important to this congregation in the past such
as Habitat, Meals on Wheels, and Corning Community
College Campus Ministry.
Knowing that you will not be asked for additional
giving each month, we hope that you will prayerfully
consider increasing your regular giving. You will be
donating to benevolences as well as the operating budget
of the church. We believe that this change will simplify
giving and will reflect our congregation's commitment to
support causes outside of our walls. This is a very
generous congregation and that generosity is not currently
well-reflected in our reporting. If you have any
questions, please don't hesitate to contact one of the
deacons.
Respectfully,
Star Bright for the deaconate.
Join Pastor Marraine for the annual Family Planning Advocates
Day of Action in Albany on January 30th. Help kick off the 2017 legislative session. Send the message that reproductive health care matters to all New
Yorkers. The goal, as always, is that all people have access to reproductive health care no matter their zip code,
income, sexual orientation, race, religion, gender, or country of origin. If you have never been to a lobbying
event, this is a good one to experience and learn from. For more information or to register, please check the
following link http://www.familyplanningadvocates.org/
or connect with Pastor Marraine for more information.
Bonus points if you can find Pastor Marraine in the photo (above) from last year's event.
The Caller 5
Music
To the members of the congregation of the First
Congregational United Church of Christ in Corning
Thank you!
Thank you for the all the support you have given me throughout my forty
three plus year tenure as the choir director of this wonderful church.
Thank you for the love and encouragement you offered me each year.
Thank you for making my time spent at our church a blessing and a joy.
Thank you for all the gifts you have given me, which includes the gift you
presented to me this year; very generous.
Thank you for all the wonderful memories that shall remain throughout my lifetime.
Thank you, Dick Perry 12-3-16
MUSIC PROGRAM IN TRANSITION
Maestro Richard Perry’s retirement After forty-three years of continuous service as Music Director for our
congregation, Richard Perry has retired effective December 31, 2016. Dick has
spent a great deal of time reflecting on this decision. He feels this is the
appropriate time to step down. We will miss his leadership, sensitivity in his
musical selections, musical talent, and infectious joy in the making of music
with our talented member musicians. For more than four decades we have
been blessed to be served by an outstanding musician with great talent and a
large heart. The Music Committee will be exploring staffing options during
this time of transition. We welcome feedback from you and ask that you write
suggestions and place them in the music committee file located next to the
office door. Dick has generously offered to work with the Music Committee to
ensure we have a smooth transition. What a gift to celebrate the combined
Christmas Cantata and Pageant on December 18th written by Dick’s father,
Lawrence Perry. How wonderful to sing “Hallelujah” during the Christmas
Eve service. We are working on additional ways to celebrate his musical
tenure here at the church. We are blessed by the ministry he has offered here
during his tenure; his direction of the choir, his inspiration of young voices, and his enthusiasm for
congregational singing have been invaluable to the life of the church. We wish Maestro Richard Perry abundant
blessings for his journey ahead; for time with family, for train exploration, for photography adventures, and for
increased theatre attendance. We wish for him a retirement full with hope, peace, joy, and love.
Search for Interim Choir Director The Music Committee (Tom Kowalik, Cathy Hogan, Jill Palmer, and Jeff Demeritt) have been prayerfully
considering next steps to fill the position of choir director. The intention is to find an interim choir director to
maintain the program through June. During that time the congregation and the music committee can be
intentional about their discernment for the job description and permanent candidate. The Music Committee,
choir, and Pastor Marraine have met with a highly qualified possible candidate for the interim position. We will
make a formal announcement once all of the details have been finalized.
6
Book Discussion ~ “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande
Wednesday, January 18th at 7pm
In Being Mortal, bestselling author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his
profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending
Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury, and infectious disease
from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death, the goals
of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit.
Bob Walker will lead this book discussion at the Southeast Steuben Library on Jan. 11th,
but you can join him for this repeat performance at our church!
“Basics of Visitation” Workshop – January 28, 2017 9:00am-12:00pm
Two years ago Pastor Marraine led a six week study series based on the “Called to Care” curriculum from the
United Church of Christ. As a result, three people in the congregation were trained to help with visitation to our
church members who have limited transportation options. This year we will begin a visitation schedule that
opens those visits to the wider congregation. Join us for a brief introduction to pastoral visitation including
resources, guidelines, and communication with the pastoral staff. This opportunity will be open to our
ecumenical partners. We will be offering a different topic on visitation and congregational care on Saturday
mornings on the following dates through the month of April (Jan 28, Feb 25, Mar 25, and April 22).
*We will need a minimum of five people total for each of the sessions to run.
A Report on Pastor Marraine’s Continuing Education during 2016
During the first year of my tenure, Rev. David Ashby, who had been the interim pastor
prior to my arrival, encouraged me to look into the Fundamentals of Transitional
Ministry classes offered by the Interim Ministry Network. Historically, I have
associated those classes solely people who are interested in Interim Ministry settings. I
joked with David that he had just gotten me here and why would he want me to be considering such
things. Wise as he is, he pointed out that all churches and pastorates are often in transition. The training simply
increased the tools in my tool box. Whether the transition is due to a pastoral change, a leadership change, gain/
loss of members, change in the external environment, or a myriad of other reasons.
As I considered the transitions this church might be facing over the course of 2016 and beyond, I finally
followed his advice and registered for the training. I did Part I – Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry, the
Work of the Leader. In November, I took Part II – Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry, the Work of the
Congregation. Combined, the two sections included eight days of classes.
Part I in April was useful, but by far the content and work of Part II in November was most relevant and useful
to the current transitions in the life of this church. Within the first day the class was presented were tools and
resources we could use in this church right away. Our group of students from various denominations across the
US and Canada made use of practical experiences to reflect on what we had been taught. We began and ended
our class time in theological reflection and prayer. Throughout the week, I pondered how each of the resources
would be useful in the current setting of the church. David was wise to guide me there. Indeed, the training is
traditionally for those who want to go into interim ministry, but much of what we discussed could be used in any
pastoral setting.
Right before our last session I received the e-mail from Richard Perry expressing his desire to retire. During my
reflections that week I had to come up with several other places to use my new tools. The retirement of the
music director after forty three years certainly qualifies. Some of the wisdom I have learned from the class have
already been put to use in the midst of our musical transition.
To finish Part II I am required to work on a congregational project. One of the most important elements of
transition is understanding the history of the setting. My hope is to continue the research and conversations to
bring the church history book up to date. The history dinner on January 25th will be part of that research.
The Caller 7
From the Mailbag....
To my friends at First Congregational UCC,
Thank you for your generous monetary
Christmas gift. I really appreciate it during
this season of spending. But I also want to
express my gratitude for another great year in
my journey with you -
Thank you Women’s Fellowship for the
cookies. I enjoyed a few myself and then
put the rest in the freezer so I could share
them Christmas weekend. Also for the
friendly way you always invite me to join
you for your dish-to-pass lunches!
Thank you to the Choir and Christian Education for the
marvelous “Petit Noel” on December 18th. What an Advent
treat! Watching Dick Perry conduct the Cantata written by his
father literally brought tears to my eyes.
For the gift of friendship from Pastor Marraine and the rest of
the people who brighten my days in the office, I am so
grateful.
This is getting long-winded, so just to see if you’re still
reading.........I’m also thankful for all those who turn in their
annual reports before the deadline!!! Ha Ha...by January 10th
this year!
Your Church Secretary,
Brenda
Dear church people,
Thank you so very much for the
kindness and support you continue to
show for me and my musical endeavors
- also the monetary gift is really
appreciated.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Perry
2nd Don Keck
5th Sue McMaster
6th Jill VanDewoestine
7th Lorraine King
7th Tom Wilkinson
10th Lucille Gorton
14h Matthew Reif
15th Diane Legendre
17th Bentley Denison
18th Jennifer Long
20th Cooper Grinnell
22nd Angela Allis
24th Steve Grinnell
24th Walt Iddings
25th Ben Mertus
26th Dave Howard
27th Mary Daly
28th Cory Fisher
Women’s Fellowship Group,
Thank you so much for your donation
of hats, scarves, & mittens! We have
given out at least 7 sets already. Your
kindness definitely helps our students
in need!
Thank you- Mrs. Stefanini
Please extend our sincere gratitude to your
Women’s Fellowship Group for the generous
donation of hats and gloves for our children.
Their faces light up when we are able to give
them a hat or gloves to help them stay warm.
Thank you for thinking of our Scholar-Roos!
Sincerely, Michele Wright
and the Winfield Staff
Beloved Congregation, Thank you for
the financial Christmas gift. I deeply
treasure my relationship with this
congregation and all of you. I
anticipate that the four footed members
of my family have their eyes on the
funds for treats, toys, and beds.
Blessings to you and all of your
families.
Pastor Marraine
8
Church Events
It is a meeting with the approval of 2016 reports, election of
officers, and the approval of the 2017 Budget on the agenda.
Please forward your reports to the office by
Tuesday, January 10th.
The annual meeting is
scheduled for
Sunday, January 29, 2017.
2017 SOUP LUNCHES
after worship on JANUARY 8,
FEBRUARY 5, MARCH 5
Book Discussion
“Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande
Wednesday, January 18th at 7pm
Bob Walker will be leading Books Sandwiched In at the Southeast Steuben Library on Jan
11th. Join him here at First Congregational UCC on the 18th for a repeat performance.
In Being Mortal, bestselling author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his
profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending.
Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury, and infectious disease
from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death, the
goals of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit.
History Pot Luck Dinner Wednesday, January 25th, Dinner 6:30pm; Program at 7:00pm
What stories can you share about this church? Just because some of us
have been together for awhile doesn’t mean we know everything about
each other. This is an opportunity for me to get to know the church and
its history better! No written church histories required… we come
together for food, fellowship and remembering. Rev. Jennifer Long
will lead us in the conversation so I can really focus on listening and
hearing who First Congregational United Church of Christ has been
over the years. In February I will be exchanging the favor to be part of
the history dinner at Emanuel Lutheran Church.
The Caller 9
Photo Gallery
WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
10
CHRISTMAS MORNING SERVICE
PETIT NOEL CHRISTMAS CANTATA & PAGEANT
The Caller 11
7:00pm AA
Bone Builders 9:30-10:30am
Bone Builders 9:30-10:30am
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
7:00pm AA
Bone Builders 9:30-10:30am
Bone Builders 9:30-10:30am
Bone Builders 9:30-10:30am
Nami 7:00pm
Deacon’s Mtg. 7:00pm
Trustee’s Mtg. 7:00pm
10:00am Worship & Communion
6:00pm Bells 7:00 AA 7:15pm Choir
Community Office Hours at Soulful Cup 3-5pm
10:00am Worship 5-7pm Youth Group 5:30pm Strings 7:00pm Brassworks
Bone Builders 9:30-10:30am
Community Office Hours at Soulful Cup 9-11am
Bone Builders 9:30-10:30am
6:00pm Bells 7:00 AA 7:15pm Choir
Bone Builders 9:30-10:30am
Nami 7:00pm
Women’s Fellowship 11:30 am
7:00pm AA
6:00pm Bells 7:00 AA 7:15pm Choir
10:00am Worship 5-7pm Youth Group 5:30pm Strings 7:00pm Brassworks
Save the Date - Ask Pastor Marraine for more details if
you are interested!
June 30 - July 4, 2017 - UCC General Synod- Baltimore,
MD http://synod.uccpages.org/
Bone Builders 9:30-10:30am
6:00pm Bells 7:00 AA 7:15pm Choir
10:00am Worship Soup Lunch & Budget Discussion 5-7pm Youth Group 5:30pm Strings 7:00pm Brassworks
10:00am Worship 5-7pm Youth Group 5:30pm Strings 7:00pm Brassworks
7:00pm AA
7:00pm AA
Bone Builders 9:30-10:30am
Bone Builders 9:30-10:30am
History Dinner 6:30pm
Annual Report Deadline
Book Discussion 7pm
Visitation Workshop 9am-noon
12
First Congregational United Church of Christ
171 West Pulteney Street
Corning, NY 14830